Although this information will not take the place of a consultation with your doctor, it should answer some of the questions you may have about treatments with injectable collagen. This information may also help you and your doctor decide whether Collagen Replacement Therapy® is right for you.

What causes wrinkles?
The way your skin looks is directly related to the way your skin is supported. Wrinkles form when the natural collagen layer thins during the course of aging. Other factors that weaken the collagen fibers include exposure to the sun, disease, injury, heredity and lifestyle.

What is collagen?
Collagen is the most abundant natural protein found in the body and provides structural support to skin, muscle, tendons, and bone. Fibers of collagen are woven together, like threads in fabric, to form a framework into which new cells can grow. In the skin, collagen provides texture, resiliency and shape.

What are CosmoDermTM and CosmoPlastTM?
CosmoDerm and CosmoPlast are collagen dermal (skin) fillers made from human collagen and injected just below the skin's surface to smooth wrinkles, fill in deep furrows and folds, and restore the lip border.

What are dermal fillers?
Dermal fillers are substances that are injected just below the surface of the skin to replace the collagen layer, filling lines, wrinkles and scars from the inside out. Dermal fillers can temporarily restore a smoother, more youthful appearance. Dermal fillers can also be used to add definition to the lip border. Collagen dermal fillers have been proven safe and effective for more than 20 years.

What is Collagen Replacement Therapy®?
Collagen Replacement Therapy® is a safe, non-surgical wrinkle correction treatment in which highly purified collagen is injected into the skin to replenish the skin's natural collagen.

Is Collagen Replacement Therapy safe?
Yes. Collagen products from Allergan Aesthetics are approved by the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are tested for a variety of contaminants in accordance with strict FDA requirements. The end result of this stringent testing is a safe product, free from detectable viruses or contaminants.

How are collagen treatments different from Botox® Cosmetic?
Botox Cosmetic is a protein that is injected into muscles to relax them, smoothing lines and wrinkles caused by repeated facial movements. In contrast, collagen is a dermal filler and is injected below a wrinkle, scar or depression in order to "fill" it in, smoothing the surface of the skin. Many physicians use both Botox and collagen together to restore a smoother, more youthful appearance.

Can I use Botox® Cosmetic and CosmoDerm and CosmoPlast together?
Yes. Many doctors will administer both Botox Cosmetic and CosmoDerm and CosmoPlast during the same office visit.

What is the difference between CosmoDerm and CosmoPlast?
CosmoDerm and CosmoPlast are made from human collagen, which has been purified from human dermal (skin) tissue grown under controlled laboratory conditions. CosmoDerm is used for fine lines while CosmoPlast is used in the treatment of deeper lines and furrows.

Tell me more about Zyderm®, Zyplast®, CosmoDerm and CosmoPlast.
Zyderm® and Zyplast® introduced in 1981 and 1985 respectively, are the best selling and most successful dermal (skin) filler's on the market. Made of highly purified bovine (cow) collagen, a skin test is required 28 days before treatment. CosmoDerm and CosmoPlast are human-based collagen treatments and offer a similar aesthetic result to that of Zyderm® & Zyplast® with the added convenience of not needing a skin test.

Is skin testing required before I can receive CosmoDerm and CosmoPlast?
No. You can receive CosmoDerm or CosmoPlast the same day as your initial consultation or office visit.

Who can inject CosmoDerm and CosmoPlast?
CosmoDerm and CosmoPlast can be injected by a licensed physician or a Collagen Specialist, who is a qualified health care professional, such as a registered nurse or physicians assistant, educated in all aspects of Collagen Replacement Therapy. Collagen Specialists are expertly trained to proficiently inject collagen under the direct supervision of a licensed physician.

How long does the procedure take?
Treatment of collagen injections takes approximately 30 - 60 minutes.

Do I need to take time off from work to recuperate?
Collagen Replacement Therapy is a simple procedure with a quick recovery time. Most patients feel comfortable resuming their normal activities immediately following treatment. You are free to eat, drink, or wear makeup with sunblock shortly after treatment. There may be some temporary swelling and redness in the treated area which should subside within an hour.

Are collagen injections painful?
Most people report that the injections are relatively painless. To minimize discomfort, a topical or local anesthetic can be applied to the area prior to treatment. Also, CosmoDerm and CosmoPlast contain a small amount of anesthetic, lidocaine, which helps to numb the area temporarily.

What areas can be treated with CosmoDerm and CosmoPlast?
The most common areas treated are the smile lines around your nose and mouth, frown lines between the eyes, acne scars, fine lines above the mouth, and the lip border to add definition.

Can I have more than one area treated at the same time?
Yes, more than one area can safely be injected at the same time.

How frequently will I need to have Collagen Replacement Therapy®?
To maintain optimal correction, touch-up injections are usually needed within 3 to 6 months of the original treatment. The amount of collagen used during follow-up treatments is usually less than that used in the initial treatment. Without ongoing treatments, the collagen is gradually absorbed by the body and your face returns to its original contours.

How do I know Collagen Replacement Therapy® might be right for me?
If looking your best is important to you, Collagen Replacement Therapy® is probably for you. Imagine smoothing out those wrinkles around your mouth, or filling in those annoying tiny lines above your lip. Now you can.

Perform a simple stretch test. Pull your skin tight on either side of the wrinkle you want to test, this will allow you to assess the potential for optimal treatment capability. If the line/wrinkle goes away when the skin is pulled tight, then full correction may be achieved. Keep in mind that if you can still see a line when you pull the skin, your doctor will be able to smooth the area and fill in the wrinkle, but you may still see the line.

How much do the treatments cost?
Pricing varies depending on the number and types of areas being treated, the amount of filler material required to achieve the desired results and the physician administering the treatment. Typically treatments are priced competitively with other products including Botox® Cosmetic.

What should I find out before I have any type of medical cosmetic treatment?

• Is the product approved by the FDA?
• Who is performing the treatment? Do they have the proper training/credentials?
• When do you want to see results?
• Where are your problem areas?
• Make sure your doctor reviews all safety information provided by the manufacturer.